System and method for filling cigarettes

ABSTRACT

A system for outputting cigarettes filled with a smoking material, including a body, an insert coupled to the body, the insert configured to store the cigarettes having a specific size, the insert having a base and sidewalls extending upwards from the base, the base and sidewalls matching the specific size of the cigarettes, the cigarette configured to be mounted on a top surface of the base, a hitting mechanism secured to the body, the hitting mechanism having a hitting member moving towards a bottom surface of the base of the insert and hitting the base, and an actuator for providing energy to move the hitting member.

FIELD

The present invention generally relates to systems and methods for filling cigarettes.

BACKGROUND

Various countries permit both the recreational and medical use of cannabis for the delivery of THC (Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol), CBD (cannabidiol), and other cannabinoids to a user. Inhaling combusted cannabis is the most common, effective, and least expensive method for delivering a pharmacological action to the brain and body. One convenient method for smoking cannabis is to hand-roll loose cannabis stock into a cigarette. Unfortunately, the resulting ‘joints’ have uneven burn characteristics, are harsh to the lungs, and deliver an unpredictable dose of cannabinoids. Cannabinoid dosing will depend on how loose the roll is, the size of cannabis particles, puff volume, and how uniformly cannabinoids are distributed throughout the cannabis product, also defined as cannabis cigarette.

A personal, table-top cigarette rolling device, costing as little as $20, may deliver a greater and more consistent packing density than obtainable by hand rolling, and may include a filter to reduce the harshness of the inhaled smoke. However, packing density and burn characteristics will still depend upon the particle sizes of loose cannabis, which may range from dust-sized to a particle length greater than the cigarette diameter. Consumers of the cannabis cigarette wish to have uniformly distributed particles for a better experience, from the smoking perspective and in order to inhale similar materials in each inhale.

One method for uniformly distributing the smoking material in a cannabis cigarette is to vibrate the cannabis cigarette. In the vibration. The cannabis cigarette, or the housing carrying the cannabis cigarette, is moved upwards and downwards for several seconds. However, the result of such vibration is the small particles falling to the bottom of the cannabis cigarette, hence lack of uniformity in the particles inside the cannabis cigarette.

SUMMARY

In one aspect of the invention a system is provided for outputting cigarettes filled with a smoking material, comprising a body, an insert coupled to the body, said insert is configured to store the cigarettes having a specific size, said insert comprises a base and sidewalls extending upwards from the base, said base and sidewalls match the specific size of the cigarettes, the cigarette is configured to be mounted on a top surface of the base; a hitting mechanism secured to the body, said hitting mechanism comprises a hitting member moving towards a bottom surface of the base of the insert and hitting the base; an actuator for providing energy to move the hitting member.

In some cases, the hitting mechanism comprises a compartment for holding at least a portion of the hitting member, said compartment remains in position, secured to the body, while the hitting member hits the bottom surface of the base. In some cases, the compartment comprises a compartment top for limiting an upward movement of the hitting member towards the bottom surface of the base. In some cases, the compartment top comprises an aperture in which the hitting member moves upwards towards the base of the insert.

In some cases, the hitting member is a rigid weight weighing at least double than the cigarettes filled with the smoking material.

In some cases, the system further comprising a controller for controlling the hit of the hitting member on the bottom surface of the base.

In some cases, the controller is electrically coupled to the actuator, wherein the controller adjusting an electric property of a signal sent to the actuator to control the movement of the hitting member relative to the bottom surface of the base.

In some cases, the electric property sent to the actuator is determined based on properties of the cigarette.

In some cases, the actuator comprises an electromagnetic unit for creating a magnetic field in response to receiving electrical voltage, said magnetic field generates the movement of the hitting member towards the base.

In some cases, the energy applied by the hitting mechanism on the cigarette is limited to prevent the cigarette from falling out from the insert.

In some cases, the base is located in a bottom side of the insert, pointing to the ground.

In some cases, the system further comprising a motor coupled to the insert, said motor moves the insert away from the hitting mechanism after a hitting process is complete.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Some embodiments of the invention are herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings. With specific reference now to the drawings in detail, it is stressed that the particulars shown are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion of embodiments of the invention. In this regard, the description taken with the drawings makes apparent to those skilled in the art how embodiments of the invention may be practiced.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a plurality of inserts and hitting mechanisms secured to a body of the system for filling cigarettes, according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a plurality of hitting mechanisms arranged together, according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention;

FIGS. 3A and 3B show a hitting mechanism with the hitting member located in two different positions, according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention; and,

FIG. 4 shows a method for filling cigarettes, according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

The following detailed description of embodiments of the invention refers to the accompanying drawings referred to above. Dimensions of components and features shown in the figures are chosen for convenience or clarity of presentation and are not necessarily shown to scale. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings and the following description to refer to the same and like parts.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The subject matter discloses a system for manufacturing cigarettes filled with a smoking material. The system comprises an insert for holding the cigarette and a hitting mechanism for hitting the insert in order to uniformly distribute the particles inside the cigarette. The smoking material in the cigarette may include various sizes of particles, for example as filled into a cannabis cigarette. The hitting mechanism comprises a movable member that hits the insert and a compartment for storing the movement of the movable member. The compartment is affixed to the body of the system for filling cigarettes.

FIG. 1 shows a plurality of inserts and hitting mechanisms secured to a body of the system for filling cigarettes, according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention. The system comprises a body, configured to be placed on a surface, such as a floor, carpet and the like. The body comprises a base 110 to which the inserts and hitting mechanisms are connected. The inserts may be movable relative to the base, such that each time a new cigarette approaches the hitting mechanisms. In another exemplary embodiments, the hitting mechanism may be movable relative to the base, such that each time the hitting mechanism hits another insert. In a more common design of the system, the inserts are movable, when containing a cigarette, to move the cigarettes among different stations of the system, such as a filling station in which the cigarette is filled, a hitting station in which the cigarette is hit to improve the distribution of the particles in the cigarette, to a closing station in which the cigarette's opening is closed. These stations are exemplary only. In some exemplary cases, the system receives cigarettes filled by a person, and after the cigarette is hit, the cigarette's head is sealed by a person.

The system may comprise multiple inserts and multiple hitting mechanisms, to improve efficiency of the system, and to enable hitting multiple inserts concurrently. For example, inserts 160, 162, 164 and 166 are secured to the body of the system. The inserts 160, 162, 164 and 166 have a base (not shown) and sidewalls extending upwards from the base. Upwards is defined as farther from the hitting mechanisms 130, 132, 134 and 136. The top most point of the inserts 160, 162, 164 and 166 defines an opening 170, 172, 174 and 176 via which the cigarettes are inserted into the inserts 160, 162, 164 and 166. In a preferred embodiment, one cigarette is inserted to each insert. In some other cases, inserts may comprise multiple compartments, hence containing multiple cigarettes. The base and the sidewalls of the inserts 160, 162, 164 and 166 define a volume into which the cigarette is inserted. The height of the volume, defined between the opening and the base, may be in the range of 3-25 centimeters, to cover a wide range of cigarettes. The shape of the cross section of the volume defined inside the inserts 160, 162, 164 and 166 may be circular, elliptical, polygonal and a combination thereof.

The hitting mechanisms 130, 132, 134 and 136 may be mounted on the base 110 or on another element of the body of the system. When mounted on the base, the hitting mechanisms 130, 132, 134 and 136 are placed on base connectors 120, 122, 124 and 126, respectively. In such optional case, each of the base connectors 120, 122, 124 and 126 is in physical contact with the base and with one of the hitting mechanisms 130, 132, 134 and 136. The top most point of the hitting mechanisms 130, 132, 134 and 136, defined as the closest point to the inserts 160, 162, 164 and 166, is located below circular plate 140. The circular plate 140 may be used to stabilize the system during the movement of the hitting member towards the inserts 160, 162, 164 and 166. In addition, the circular plate 140 may comprise multiple plate apertures such as plate apertures 150, 152 and 156, for verifying that the hitting member hits the base of the inserts 160, 162, 164 and 166. The circular plate 140 may move along with the inserts 160, 162, 164 and 166, from one station to another.

FIG. 2 shows a plurality of hitting mechanisms arranged together, according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention. Multiple hitting mechanisms enable to hit multiple inserts and multiple cigarettes concurrently. The system may comprise a single hitting mechanism if desired by the designer of the system. A hitting mechanism comprises a hitting member compartment 210 and compartment top 224 that contain the hitting mechanism components. The hitting member compartment 210 is shown separate from compartment top 224, as both hitting member compartment 210 and compartment top 224 form the housing of the hitting mechanism components. Hitting member compartments 212, 214 and 216 are shown as secured to their respective compartment tops.

The hitting member compartment 210 is secured to the actuator 220. For example, the base of the actuator 220 may be welded or connected using screws to the base of the hitting member compartment 210. The actuator 220 may comprise an actuator top 215 located on a top side of the actuator 220, closer to the dumbbell 230. The dumbbell base 240 may be mounted on the actuator top 215. For example, a bottom side of the dumbbell base 240 may comprise a niche that matches the shape and size of the actuator top 215. When the dumbbell 230 is mounted on the actuator 220, the top surface of the dumbbell is located lower than the base of the insert. In some cases, the movement of the dumbbell 230 towards the insert is limited by the compartment top 224. As the dumbbell 230 and dumbbell base 240 are located inside the hitting mechanism housing defined by the hitting member compartment 210 and compartment top 224, the dumbbell does not touch the insert without any trigger from the actuator 220. Trigger from the actuator moves the dumbbell 230 upwards, towards the insert, via compartment aperture 222 located inside the compartment top 224 and via plate aperture 205.

The actuator 220 moves the hitting member comprising the dumbbell 230 and dumbbell base 240 towards the insert when a new cigarette is placed in the insert above the hitting mechanism, or in response to a command from an external device. The external device may be a controller of the system for manufacturing filled cigarettes. The controller may be coupled to the electrical components of the system, receive an indication that new cigarettes reached the hitting station, then send a signal to the actuator 220 to move the hitting member towards the inset.

The controller sends signals to the actuator 220, for example over a coaxial cable, based on the frequency or amplitude of the voltage applied on the cable. The signals indicate the properties of the hitting on the bottom surface of the base of the insert. The hitting properties vary based on the properties of the cigarette. The cigarette properties may include type of smoking material, weight, height, density of the smoking material and the like. The cigarette properties or the hitting properties may be inputted into an input unit coupled to the controller, such that the controller or a remote device coupled to the controller determines the hitting on the insert when the cigarette is located in the insert. The cigarette's weight may be in the range of 0.2-2 grams.

The actuator 220 may comprise a small motor coupled to the hitting member. In some other cases, the hitting member may comprise a metal shit that moves in response to creation of a magnetic field. In such a case, the actuator is an electromagnetic member that creates a magnetic field in response to receiving or detecting change in the electrical voltage or current. The electromagnetic member may be a solenoid, electrically coupled to a power source. The power source sends a signal at a specific voltage or current that matches the activation of the hitting mechanism, for example 0.1-1 Ampere. The amount of voltage or current injected into the actuator 220 may change based on the type of smoking material filled into the cigarette, the amount of smoking material filled into the cigarette, desired properties of the cigarette and the like.

FIGS. 3A and 3B show a hitting mechanism with the hitting member located in two different positions, according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

In FIG. 3A, the hitting member is in a resting position, in which the dumbbell 360 is relatively far from the insert 310. In FIG. 3B, the dumbbell 360 is in a hitting position, closer or hitting the insert 310. It can be seen that the bottom surface of the dumbbell base 320 is closer to the bottom of the actuator 315 in the hitting position shown in FIG. 3B, compared to the distance between bottom surfaces of the dumbbell base 320 and the actuator 315 in the resting position shown in FIG. 3A.

The dumbbell 360 comprises a bottom niche, filled with a top section 322 of the dumbbell base 320. The dumbbell 360 comprises a dumbbell top section 365 and dumbbell side section 332 closer to the sidewalls 330 of the hitting member compartment. The dumbbell base 320 does not move relative to the dumbbell 360, only relative to the actuator 315. When the actuator 315 creates a magnetic field, or otherwise triggers movement of the hitting member, both the dumbbell 360 and the dumbbell base 320 move upwards, towards the insert 310. In the resting position, the upper section of the dumbbell 360 is located below the insert. In some cases, in the resting position, the upper section of the dumbbell 360 is located below the circular plate 350.

The dumbbell base 320 and the actuator 315 are located inside a hitting member compartment defined by sidewalls 330. The cross sectional shape of the hitting member compartment may be elliptical, polygonal, and any shape desired by a person skilled in the art. The hitting member compartment remains in place when the hitting member moves towards and away from the insert 310.

The hitting member compartment comprises two voids, enabling movement of the hitting member inside the hitting member compartment. Dumbbell void 335 is defined under compartment top 328 and above dumbbell side sections 332. The dumbbell void enables the dumbbell side sections 332 to move upwards, when the dumbbell 360 moves towards the insert 310. The compartment top 328 limits the movement of the dumbbell 360 by limiting the movement of the dumbbell side sections 332. In the resting position, there is a dumbbell base void 325 formed between the dumbbell base 320 and the actuator 315. The dumbbell base void 325 limits the upward movement of the dumbbell base 320 when the dumbbell 360 moves upwards via the aperture of the compartment top 328 towards the insert 310.

FIG. 3B also shows a hitting void 370 created when the dumbbell 360 moves upwards, for hitting the base of the insert 310. The hitting void 370 shows that the actuator 315 does not move when the hitting member moves, or moves less than the hitting member, containing the dumbbell 360. In some cases, the upper surface 318 of the actuator 315 remains in its height in both positions of the hitting mechanism shown in both FIGS. 3A and 3B.

FIG. 4 shows a method for filling cigarettes, according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

Step 410 discloses filling a cigarette with smoking material. Filling may be made automatically using a machine for filling the cigarettes, the machine comprises or is coupled to a container storing the smoking material. The amount of smoking material may be defined by a person skilled in the art, for example in the range of 0.3-5 grams. The automatic filling of the cigarette may be done in a filling station in the system. The filling system is located in another area in the system than the hitting system disclosed above. Filling the cigarette may be performed by a person putting the smoking material into the cigarette, and placing the filled cigarette inside the inserts.

Step 420 discloses moving the cigarette inside an insert to a hitting station. Moving the cigarette may be performed by an arm or a carrying mechanism automatically moving the inserts after the filling process is complete. For example, the filling mechanism may send a signal to the carrying mechanism, indicating completion of the filling process. In some other cases, the indication of completion of the filling process may result from weighing the cigarette, or from a sensor collecting information in the system, for example an image sensor identifying smoking material inside the cigarette.

Step 430 discloses hitting the insert holding the cigarette using a hitting mechanism. Hitting may be performed using a hitting member, such as a dumbbell. The hitting member may weigh more than the filled cigarette. The hitting duration may be in the range of 0.3-7 seconds. Hitting may be from the bottom side of the insert, pushing the cigarette upwards, towards the aperture of the insert.

Step 440 discloses moving the cigarette from the hitting station. The cigarettes may be transferred inside the inserts towards a packing station that packs the cigarettes automatically, or to a stack of cigarettes packed manually by a person. Moving the cigarette may be performed using an arm that moves the insert carrying the cigarette from the hitting station. In some other cases, the inserts are secured to a rotating ring that moves in a rotational movement having an axis perpendicular to the ground. This way, the inserts carrying the cigarettes remain perpendicular to the ground when moving from one station to the other.

It should be understood that the above description is merely exemplary and that there are various embodiments of the present invention that may be devised, mutatis mutandis, and that the features described in the above-described embodiments, and those not described herein, may be used separately or in any suitable combination; and the invention can be devised in accordance with embodiments not necessarily described above.

While the disclosure has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made, and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the disclosed subject matter is not limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but only by the claims that follow. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for outputting cigarettes filled with a smoking material, comprising: a body; an insert coupled to the body, said insert is configured to store the cigarettes having a specific size, said insert comprises a base and sidewalls extending upwards from the base, said base and sidewalls match the specific size of the cigarettes, the cigarette is configured to be mounted on a top surface of the base; a hitting mechanism secured to the body, said hitting mechanism comprises a hitting member moving towards a bottom surface of the base of the insert and hitting the base; an actuator for providing energy to move the hitting member.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the hitting mechanism comprises a compartment for holding at least a portion of the hitting member, said compartment remains in position, secured to the body, while the hitting member hits the bottom surface of the base.
 3. The system of claim 2, wherein the compartment comprises a compartment top for limiting an upward movement of the hitting member towards the bottom surface of the base.
 4. The system of claim 3, wherein the compartment top comprises an aperture in which the hitting member moves upwards towards the base of the insert.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the hitting member is a rigid weight weighing at least double than the cigarettes filled with the smoking material.
 6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a controller for controlling the hit of the hitting member on the bottom surface of the base.
 7. The system of claim 6, wherein the controller is electrically coupled to the actuator, and wherein the controller adjusting an electric property of a signal sent to the actuator to control the movement of the hitting member relative to the bottom surface of the base.
 8. The system of claim 6, wherein the electric property sent to the actuator is determined based on properties of the cigarette.
 9. The system of claim 2, wherein the actuator comprises an electromagnetic unit for creating a magnetic field in response to receiving electrical voltage, said magnetic field generates the movement of the hitting member towards the base.
 10. The system of claim 1, wherein the energy applied by the hitting mechanism on the cigarette is limited to prevent the cigarette from falling out from the insert.
 11. The system of claim 1, wherein the base is located in a bottom side of the insert, pointing to the ground.
 12. The system of claim 1, further comprising a motor coupled to the insert, said motor moves the insert away from the hitting mechanism after a hitting process is complete. 